FOR more than 20 years, Lucille Montgomery has been caring for her brother Bernard, now aged 70.
And until her mother died in 2000, Lucille was also looking after her.
She does not grumble about her lot, describing Bernard as "my whole life". For Lucille and more than 6,000 like her the Carers Centre, in Catherine Street, has been a lifeline. But now the centre is fighting for survival as grants run out and donations dwindle. According to Tina Stacey, who runs the centre, the cash wil run out in September and as it stands the service would have to cease. For Lucille, 66, the centre was so important she became a part-time volunteer. She said: "It used to be 24-hour-a-day care for me. I just didn't know for ten years whether I was going to get a night's sleep."
It was only when, two and a half years ago, Bernard suffered a stroke that Lucille received some kind of physical back up and now receives night-time support to look after her brother.
But while the strain was at its greatest, it was the Carers' Centre she could turn to.
She said: "I could go in there and meet other people who could sympathise with me and shared similar problems.
"The old saying that a problem shared is a problem halved really is true."
She now helps play that more supportive role for other carers.
Lucille said: "I have seen people come into the centre in tears but after they have sat down and talked to someone they have left laughing."
She added: "There are a lot of people who use the centre who would miss it if it closed.
"There is nowhere else in Croydon which offers the same kind of service.
"It is really personal and that's what people need."
The centre, which offers support to more than 6,000 carers, no longer gets a council grant of £13,000 and has seen donations from big companies such as Nestle run their course. Any companies willing to donate to the centre can contact Ms Stracey on 0208 6887219.